38: TikTok Grandma Mary Jo Laupp

In June 2020, Mary Jo Laupp posted a short video on TikTok instructing her 1,002 followers to reserve tickets under fake email addresses to a campaign rally for President Donald Trump in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The video went viral and the 19,000-seat arena attracted a mere 6,200 to the event, which was held during the coronavirus pandemic. 

In this interview, Mary Jo reflects on her journey with social media, which began on MySpace as way to ensure her then 13-year-old daughter stayed safe on the platform. A high school musical director and accompanist in Fort Dodge, Iowa, Mary Jo shares how so she learned about TikTok, why she got on it, and what she finds appealing. The mother and grandmother also talks about how her use of the platform has compelled others, including people 55+, to begin exploring it and provides her thoughts on how TikTok can be more inviting to older adults.

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If you have a unique story involving helping an older adult with technology or if you are an older adult who learned a tech-related skill from someone younger, share your story by recording a short voice memo on your phone. Include your first name, city and state and email the recording to [email protected] no later than Tuesday, June 22. Submissions may be used in a future episode.

Mary Jo's Recommendations:
- State of Mine band
- Books by mystery writer Laura Del

Shuva's Recommendation:
- The Queen's Gambit Netflix miniseries

Find these recommendations and others on the Untrained Wisdom Pinterest page.

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